That's a great site. I'm really happy to know of it.
Actually the "General," as pictured there, and as reproduced in most drawings, and by Mantua as a model, is how the little engine looked after rebuilding, after the Civil War. In George Abdill's book, "Civil War Railroads", (p166) is a photo of the General after she had been destroyed by fire by the Confederate military when they evacuated Atlanta. That's probably why she received such a total rebuilding.
According to Ed Alexander's book, "Civil War Railroads and Models," the original "General," and as she looked during the war, was quite a different little loco. Three domes, horizontal stave pilot, cylinders canted toward the rear rather than horizontal, and (perhaps most pronounced of all) an "ankle rail" which looked like an outside frame, but was actually just running boards hung outside the drivers at about the height of the frame. (And one can well imagine that the uncovered rods and driver spokes must have shaved off a few ankles and toes.....) All fairly typical of locos being built around the time of the "General's" construction --- 1855.
The "General" also had a sister loco, the "John T. Souter" that was almost identical, but with 54" drivers compared to the General's 60". It's also shown in Alexander's book.
If anyone wants to model (or gaze at pictures of) Civil War era railroads, he/she should dig up a copy of each of these wonderful books (both unfortunately out of print). Both are loaded with photographs, and Alexander's book has scale drawings of a number of locos --- including the "General".
Bill S
